Staff Correspondent

Car Nicobar, Oct 15: The RO Water Systems in Car Nicobar have fallen flat in view of the failure of the two plants to provide adequate drinking water to the citizens. Of the two RO Plants installed in the Headquarter area and Sawai villages, the latter has gone defunct recently leaving the entire population of Car Nicobar in extreme distress.

According to information, after tsunami just two RO Plants have been installed to cater to a massive population in Car Nicobar. The one in the Headquarter area supplies drinking water to nearby hamlets, while the other is located miles away in Sawai village. Residents in huge numbers obtain drinking water from the two sources on a daily basis.

After the Sawai plant going non-operational recently, the entire Car Nicobar area is now dependent on the only source at Headquarter.

Besides tribals, a huge population serves in Car Nicobar for various departments and private agencies. But lack of drinking water has become a major issue dissuading people to work in the region. Hundreds flock to the RO Plant at Headquarter, installed near a massive well, to collect drinking water daily. But the facility is closed by 7.30 pm for security reasons.

“It becomes extremely difficult for government servants as many of us have to skip office to collect drinking on a regular basis. For a population of about 3000 serving here in various government establishments and private agencies, drinking water has become a major concern. The administration should immediately embark on projects to install more RO plants in Car Nicobar,” says a government servant posted in Car Nicobar Island on the condition of anonymity.

There are many who now doubt on the cleanliness of the lone RO Plant of Headquarter area but they don’t have any other option that consuming water from the RO plant.

However, authorities claim that the Sawai RO Plant is operational but youths of Sawai, who run private vans, usually come with containers and take water from Headquater area for reasons unknown.

One can understand that due to remoteness the Administration is unable to provide all infrastructures to people of the Islands but it is unacceptable that even sufficient drinking water is not available for people in Car Nicobar.

 

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Sept 21: The death of Dominic Watson, ASI , Police Radio, has once again raised several questions over the working style of Police Department and the way lower level police officers and men are being treated by top officials.
On 15th September Dominic Watson, an ASI (Communication), A&N Police died at Chowra Island allegedly due to heart attack. Since that day the family members of the Dominic Watson have been trying to get all details related to the death but sadly there is no one to give them a clear picture.
Till now the family has got only a hand-written, over-written, medical slip, which shows that Dominic Watson was first taken to a Health Sub-Centre. The timing was recorded as 1.00 am later it was corrected by over-writing as 1.00 pm. Surprisingly no death certificate was handed over to the family members.
Most of the people told the family members that Dominic Watson died at around 10.30 am and he was admitted in a Primary Health Centre since last few days due to Typhoid but later family members found that there is no PHC in Chowra Island. Moreover the wife of Late Watson received a call at 5.30 am from an unknown person, who conveyed the message of Dominic Watson’s death at Chowra Island and hence in no way the ASI could die at 10.30 am.
There was also allegedly some pressure on family members of Dominic Watson to cremate the body at Chowra Island as due to bad weather it was difficult to bring the body to Port Blair. Even there was pressure to bury the body without post mortem, after it arrived at Port Blair. The family members however demanded a Post Mortem, which later showed that the reason of death of High Blood Pressure.
This is not all, ASI Dominic Watson was under huge mental pressure because of failure of Police Department to send a replacement for 17 long days for Dominic Watson, who was transferred to Port Blair on 29th August 2014. Late Watson was happy to get his transferred orders after nearly 10 months long tenure at Chowra Island but later he became upset as no one came to relieve him.
Family members are now demanding a clear picture of the circumstances, which led to the untimely death of a 42 years old Police Officer. The family members are also demanding that all documents related to the death of the ASI, including the death certificate should be handed over to the family members and lastly they are demanding that all death benefits of Dominic Watsons should be immediately handed over to his wife, who is a house wife and has no one to support.
As neither the DGP nor the SP, District is willing to give a quote to this press, Andaman Sheekha has decided to run the s

Vikram Adtiaya

Port Blair, Sept 09: When the horrendous boat tragedy of Jan 26, 2014 claimed 22 tourists after the boat capsized near Chatham, questions were raised on the strict adherence of security aspects by operators.

The local Administration earned flak from local, national and the international media that held the administration responsible for the disaster.

The administration responded swiftly and a series of measures were initiated to ensure safety of tourists as also local passengers. Safety audit of all vessels were ordered and operators were directed to strictly equip their vessels with mandatory safety gears. Sadly, the diktat remains confined to vessels operating in and around South Andaman.

An enquiry by Andaman Sheekha revealed that many wooden dinghies, used to ferry passengers from Ships to remote Isalsnds, in the Nicobar group of islands, ply without with adequate number of lifejackets.

In regions like Teressa, Katchal etc hundreds of ship passengers avail the services of small dinghies to reach remote locations.

While, two ladies fell into the sea about a month ago at Katchal, hundreds other remain susceptible to mishaps while commuting in boats without life jackets and other safety equipments.

“The situation is quite alarming in the Nicobar group of islands. Hundreds of small boats transport people, materials etc to remote islands. But the safety measures are not adhered to strictly. Boats operate without life jackets. Safety at sea continues to remain comprised in the region,” said a boat operator privy to the situation in Nicobar region.

Operators in Nicobar Region should be strictly instructed to equip their wooden dinghies with adequate safety equipments to prevent any major mishap in future. Surprise inspections should be done to verify if all boats are fully equipped with the required number of lifejackets. Safety at sea must be ensured for commuters in every part of these islands.

Port Blair, Sept 09: Indian Coast Guard Station, Kamorta has conducted Special Community Interaction programme at Champin village of Nancowry island on 04 Sep 14. Station crew has emphasised to the local fishermen about the safety norms to be implemented during fishing at sea.

In addition the villagers were briefed about present maritime security scenario, importance of these islands in the overall security of the nation and their role as eyes and ears of the Coast Guard and other security agencies.

Indian Coast Guard Search and Rescue toll free number (03192) 1554 were circulated to them for communication in case of distress at sea. Use of personal safety gears were also practically demonstrated to the fishermen. They were advised to carry torch/ battery illumination equipments while fishing at sea during night hours to avoid collision/close quarter situation.

Port Blair, Sept 04: On 04^th September 2014 Mr. Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, GOI visited Car Nicobar alongwith MP Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Mr. K.K Pathak, IAS, Joint Secretary, Freedom Fighter Cell, Mr. Vikas Anand, IAS, PS to MoS (Home), Mr. Theva Neethi Das, Secretary (Tribal Welfare) and Mr. Anupam Yadav, OSD to MoS (Home). The Minister visited the Tsunami Memorial at Lapathy to pay homage to the departed souls. He also visited the photo gallery at the Tsunami Memorial.

 Thereafter he proceeded towards Kinyuka village where he saw one of the permanent shelters that was built at past of the Tsunami Rehabilitation package for the people of Car Nicobar and interacted with the Nicobarese population. He appreciated the resilience for attitude shown by the people of Car Nicobar after this disaster. He was also shown the different types of community assets that were built as part of the Tsunami Rehabilitation package in Perka village. He visited the outlet of Industries department in Perka village and was appreciative of the locally made handicrafts.

 After this a meeting was conducted with Tribal Council Representatives at the APWD Guest House. Some issues that were raised included improvement of connectivity to the Nicobar group of Islands, inclusion of a sixth Schedule of the Constitution, increase in frequency of shipping and air services etc.

Staff Correspondent

Campbell Bay, Sept 01: On one hand Islanders of Andaman and Nicobar Islands suffer due to lack of vessels while on the other hand a vessel, MV Hut Bay is stationed at Campbell Bay for last five months mainly because of Ego Clash and also because shortage of Surveyors.

Today the vessel MV Hut Bay with 15 crew members, stranded at Campbell Bay, wears a deserted look. Some of the crew members are said to be suffering from Typhoid as the water and food provided to them are worst in nature.

Photographs available with Andaman Sheekha shows that the ropes provided for M.V Hut Bay are very thin, A/Cs are not working and the Monkey deck of the ship is full of rust.

In any vessel, a good Anchor is a mandatory requirement but in MV Hut Bay both the anchors are not working.

The crew members reported about the condition of the ship to authorities on 20^th June 2014 but they got no reply again on 10^th July 2014 a complaint letter was sent to Kolkata Headquarters.

It is believed that this led to eco clash and finally one surveyor refused to give single voyage fitness to the vessels to come back to Port Blair, which resulted in this crisis. Meanwhile the ‘A’ certificate of the ship expired on 31^st July 2014, making the issue more serious.

Situation is so bad that now some staffs are spending money from their own pocket for minor repairs in the ship with a hope that they will be able to come back home soon.

The vessels have now been overpowered by Rats, which can be seen anywhere and everywhere inside the vessels. Rat are not only damaging the food items inside the vessel but also making the living conditions very difficult inside the vessels. Crew members allege that often Rats bite them at night when they are asleep. According to crew members if fumigation is not carried out immediately they will surely fall ill.

Talking to Andaman Sheekha the Director of Shipping Services, Capt. Rajendra Kumar said that the problem is largely because shortage of surveyors as Andaman has only one IMD surveyor and one IRS surveyor.

He said that the DSS need surveyors at Port Blair on daily basis and sending surveyors to Campbell means hampering routine works at Port Blair.

“We are now planning to a team of Surveyors to Campbell Bay on 5^th September 2014 by helicopter so that the clearance is given by him after inspection. If tickets are available the surveyors will be able to go on 5^th September,” Capt. Kumar added.

He also added that the problem was also because crew members of the vessels who kept on complaining and writing complaint letters.

“When asked to sail in Campbell Bay region they said that the vessel is unfit but when asked to sail back to Port Blair they said the ship is fit to sail. How it is possible? Now they are trapped in their own trap as the Surveyor has refused to give clearance for single voyage sailing without inspection. It is infact because of  some crew  members who are unnecessarily complaining.  Crew complained that is why it happened. Because of complaints the MMD did not allow the ship to sail back,” Capt. Kumar added.

 

Staff Correspondent

Port Blair, Aug 21: Severe shortage of essential commodities has been reported from Nancowry Group of Islands due to lack of vessels.

Usually in every 10 days atleast three vessels used to reach Nancowry Group of Islands but now due to shortage of vessels since last six days no vessel has reached Kamorta, causing serious shortage of essential commodities, especially food items and vegetables.

The condition is so bad that in Kamorta Island there are two vegetable shops but now both the shops has been kept close as the shopkeeper has nothing to sell.

“There is severe shortage of onion and potato. Government has posted us in these remote Islands but what would we eat? Grass?,” questioned an angry government servant, who does not want his name to be quoted.

According to reports, MF Samsun is out of service for repair works. The A Certificate of MV Kalighat has expired on 15 August 2014. MV Campbell Bay has been pressed into Mainland – Island sector. MV Chowra is expected to sail for Nicobar Groups tomorrow. Therefore in next two days there is no hope of any vegetable reaching Kamorta Island.

The Shipping Department has failed to plan things properly, which has resulted in this crisis. As Mainland vessels were not made ready on time MV Campbell was diverted in Mainland – Island sector, which resulted in this crisis. Hope the DSS will act fast and press more ships in Nicobar District as soon as possible otherwise such problems will continue in coming days too.

Staff Reporter

Port Blair, Aug 13: A pregnant lady from Campbell Bay today died onboard Pawan Hans Helicopter when she was being shifted to Port Blair’s G B Pant Hospital following medical emergency.

According to report the lady was having shortage of blood and she was having continuous bleeding, which forced doctors to refer her to Port Blair’s G B Pant Hospital.

She was airlifted today at around 10.00 am from Campbell Bay and at Car Nicobar following pilots request a medical team examined her but after just before reaching Port Blair she died onboard the helicopter. The body was taken to G B Pant Hospital for further formalities.

 

 

Staff Correspondent

Katchal, Aug 12: A Sarva Siksha Abhiyan Contract Teacher today reportedly used canes to beat nearly 43 students, out of which 12 got hits including five girl students.

The matter soon took a serious shape as Tribal Council demanded stringent action against the teacher, Prakash Jha, for beating the students mercilessly. They also said that Tribal Students won’t attend classes if action is not taken against the said SSC (Maths) teacher.

Soon all the 43 students were taken to hospital and it was found that 12 students got direct hit of cane and got marks on their hands. Out of 12 nearly 6 were non-tribal students.

As it is not allowed to beat students in classroom as per new law, an NC FIR was lodged against the teacher for causing injuries.

However, as per the version of the teacher, he was taking classes of Class XII students and even after repeated warning these students were making noise just next to his class, which made him furious.

The matter was however tackled by the local Police Station well and soon situation came under total control.

 

 Car Nicobar, Aug 08: Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI) conducted the training programme on commercial cultivation of tuberose and jasmine at Car Nicobar in collaboration with KVK, Nicobar during 04^th to 06^th August 2014. The first training programme was organized in the village Kinmai on 05.08.2014 under the leadership of first headman (Mr. Kindness Israel), which was attended by 30 tribal farmers which consisted of 17 male and 13 female farmers. The second training programme was conducted in the village Tapoiming with first headman of the village as chief guest on 06.08.2014. About 30 tribal farmers (23 male and 07 female farmers) of the village attended the programme. The two days training programme was co-ordinated by the course director Dr. V. Baskaran, Senior Scientist, Division of Horticulture and Forestry under the guidance and supervision of Dr. S. Dam Roy, Director, CIARI, Port Blair. In the training programme the farmers were briefed about the different cultivation practices of tuberose and jasmine like planting and after care, mulching, packaging, storage and marketing of flower crops like j